In a Movie?

If you got here directly, great!

If you were sent here from my personal blog, the story continues.  If you didn't get here from my blog, you really did not miss anything.  Just a prelude of thoughts and ideas before this.

So, as reported for anyone who cares about film, certain actors, or Apple, the production of the newest Steve Jobs film is being filmed all over the area, here in Northern California.

I was given info from a good friend (thanks K!) about audience extras for a shoot at De Anza in Cupertino for Steve Jobs film.  I seriously thought more than once about participating.  When the info came, I really wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone...around the holidays, lack of employment, the like.

I decided to just sign up anyways to see if maybe, my personal situation would have changed by the date of shooting.  My luck did change and it became a bit hectic for me to think I could drive a good half hour or more to the shoot site. 

I have to say, I was very excited about doing this.  The emails and phone calls that came in from the company (they were mass communications) got me even more excited.

The shots that the company needed were for 1984.  So it was time to dress up, which was fun.

When I finally got the pass to go, about two days before shoot, I had to come up with something to wear.  Thinking about what things looked like back in the day, I decided to go with the good girl look-button shirt, sweater vest, pearl necklace, lots of bangled bracelets, long, straight skirt, puffy hair, and the hair bow, head band look. 

A few precautions in the packet that we were sent, no black or red clothing and no labels or words.  Hmm...I can understand the black, but what was up with the red?  I am sure it had something to do with the film or lighting or something like that.  If someone knows, please, let me know.  I know of other things that you don't want to wear like blue in front of a blue screen or green in front of green screen. 

I drove down quite early, thank goodness.

Coming into the school where the shot was taking place, there was a banner for the film.  Kind of cool.  You could get a picture of yourself and the company would post it up in a few.  I just took a picture of the banner.  Not a selfie kind of person.

The wait to get into the auditorium was non-existent, which was nice.  I mean, there was a line, but it wasn't a wait if at all.  We signed some release papers and legal papers-no posting pictures or taking pictures of the scenes while shooting. 

Let me tell ya, not taking pictures nowadays is really hard to do.  You want to remember and share everything.  And some people did.  It was a repetitive command all the time.  NO TAKING PICTURES DURING SHOOTS OR INSIDE AT ALL.  I did take some after the shoot was done, but I am not a poster of things I shouldn't post.  No problem here. 

We all got raffle tickets for some things they were going to raffle later.  I didn't need anything that was being raffled. 

I got inside around 8:30 and we started shooting around 10.  The whole auditorium, which seats 2600 or so people, had to be filled.  It was a bit squishy. 

The guy in charge of the company that got all these extras in to the theater kept us involved in the whole loop.  Mr. Cash, or Cash is the guy behind "BeInAMovie."  I liked him.  I want to work for him someday.  He had a great personality and attitude. 

We had a comedian who was the audience warmer, the person who keeps the audience entertained while waiting for whatever you are waiting for.  I mean, with phones nowadays, people can entertain themselves.  But it is nice to look away from the phone every once in a while. 

I sat by a guy who was attending the school and attending film history classes.  We got to talking about things in the school and the film. 

I don't know if I can write about what we were filming or the scenes. 

What we did shoot as an audience was clapping, cheering, walking into the auditorium, and getting into our seats.  We did all that stadium clapping, the wave (which looked super cool!), "We are the champions" stomp, and whatever else an audience does to entertain themselves. 

The company did provide us with a lunch, but I do have to say for some people, 2 pm lunch is a little late, especially for opened doors at 9 am.  Although we didn't work until 10 am, which is the right time for a lunch, they weren't kidding when they say eat something. 

I didn't mind.  I didn't even eat my lunch there.  I took mine home.  I think I was too excited to be there.

Unfortunately, the big actors were not there.  I wasn't too unhappy.  It would have been nice to see them there, but I was more interested in the whole set and shooting than anything else.  I also like big crowds so I actually felt very, very comfortable. 

There was one guy, I know him and I know I just saw him in a show or movie.  He played a really evil guy.  For the life of me, I cannot remember where I saw him.  But he is a well-known, supporting actor.  He usually plays a really bad guy, or a bad father, or the boss of the bad guys.  He's tall and probably in his 50's or 60's.  Seriously, when I find what film or show I recently saw him in, I will get his name.  Or if I find someone who also wrote down all the names down, I will get them here.  I really couldn't hear too clearly, because I was way in the back. 

There was another guy who was Michael Fassbender's stand in, and I do have to say, he was a cutie.

Although I was way in the back, the lights were shining everywhere during filming.  We were told that anyone from the back could be filmed.  Not that I want to be seen...lol...but it would be cool to say, "Hey, I was in a Michael Fassbender film."  Yeah?

A lot of people wanted to meet the stars and I felt bad that they didn't get that chance.  I have already had the chance to meet Michael twice, before he became a huge star.  Very wonderful memories.  Maybe I will share them here one day. 

Although we were told that the day would run from 9-5, we were out by 3ish or so. 

I do have to say, as I am learning this, even though the actors and entertainers and such are a big pull to these projects, I was very, very impressed with the director, Danny Boyle, and the crew.  Mr. Boyle had such a great passion for what he was doing.  I never thought I would be cheering for Jobs.  Never in a million years.  And here I was cheering for Jobs.  Not that I dislike the guy, I respect his work and all he did.  I learned a lot from hearing what Mr. Boyle had to say about what we were supposed to do during shooting.  I really took it in and came to the realization that the director and people behind the film are the heart of the project.  I started learning this by going to a few comic conventions around the area.  Whenever I would attend a panel with actors and sometimes directors, producers, and such, I always noticed that the directors were more animated, passionate, and/or knowledgeable about the project than the actors themselves.  The directors were so much more entertaining that the actors, I hate to say, but did. 

It was a fun experience and I decided I would do it again if time would allow.  Supposedly, the film production will be around through March, which I thought was a long shooting schedule for this kind of a film.  It was mentioned that there might be another need for extras in the city (San Francisco).  Here is the website if you want to know more:  http://www.projectcasting.com/casting-calls-acting-auditions/steve-jobs-starring-michael-fassbender-open-casting-call/.  I might sneak around to see some of the production.